Crown Lengthening: Functional Help for Your Mouth

Aesthetic Crown Lengthening Gum Lift Pre-Op

In the process of improving your overall oral health, your local Austin dentist may need to install a crown. However, due to previous trauma, tooth decay or other reasons, your tooth is not in shape to be able to take the needed crown (some specific reasons are given below). Most of the time, Crown Lengthening is what is needed, and at Lone Star Periodontics, we’re trained to do exactly that.

Crown Lengthening can be necessary when your tooth requires a crown or other restorative procedure but your tooth is decayed, broken below the gum line, or has insufficient tooth structure necessary for a restoration. It works by adjusting the gum and bone levels to expose more of the tooth that is to be restored, allowing your periodontist to ensure the crown properly fits the tooth and ensuring it will not come loose in the future. This also allows patients to adequately brush and floss along the edge to prevent decay and gum disease.

Crown Lengthening also plays a role in Cosmetic Dentistry

Aesthetic Crown Lengthening Gum Lift Post-Op

Crown Lengthening is also used for patients who seek professional dental help to improve a “Gummy Smile”. In the case of a “Gummy Smile” (shown in the above image), the trained professionals at Lone Star Periodontics will perform a dental crown lengthening procedure to remove excess gum tissue and restore your teeth to an ideal length.

The image at right shows the patient’s tooth length made longer by using the Crown Lengthening technique. When compared to the first image above, you can see the difference achieved. Once all healing has taken place, you can expect a much-improved smile and tooth length extension.​Gum Disease can be a major contributor to the tooth loss that cause both the need for a crown and the need for Crown Lengthening in the first place. Osseous Surgery is another treatment that might be something for you to ask your Periodontist about.

For more information about this and other periodontal procedures, please call Dr. Bingham and Dr. Hinze and the Lone Star Periodontics team at (512) 453-1600 to schedule a free consultation appointment.